So much for the Democrat's majority

Its just fucking business as usual. Whatever Israel wants, they get. Hmmm...

The US House of Representatives has adopted a measure aimed at weaving closer US and Israeli defences against ballistic missiles of the type that could be fired by Iran.

The measure, part of a $504 billion defence spending bill passed on Thursday, would redirect $205m in defence department funds toward projects already underway in Israel.

It would provide $25m more for Arrow missile co-production and integration, $45m for a US-Israeli short-range missile defence system dubbed "David's Sling" and $135m to buy a Theater High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, fire unit.

All three projects involve interceptors rockets designed to shoot down ballistic missiles in the terminal phase of their flight paths.

The only sure fire way to protect Israel is to defuse Iran. No, not an attack, but dialog. Why does everyone seem to think munitions are the ultimate answer?

Perhaps science will save us

Well, that's unless the idiot-in-chief and big oil don't kill the program. The article is about as-needed hydrogen fuel.

A Purdue University engineer has developed a method that uses an aluminum alloy to extract hydrogen from water for running fuel cells or internal combustion engines, and the technique could be used to replace gasoline.

The method makes it unnecessary to store or transport hydrogen - two major challenges in creating a hydrogen economy, said Jerry Woodall, a distinguished professor of electrical and computer engineering at Purdue who invented the process.

"The hydrogen is generated on demand, so you only produce as much as you need when you need it," said Woodall, who presented research findings detailing how the system works during a recent energy symposium at Purdue.

Yeah, sometimes I get not only eclectic, but geeky. That's so you don't have to be geeky too. Kewl, huh?

Those of you who are geeks will recognize the image as hydrogen. The rest of you can just enjoy the pretty picture. To be honest, which is always my intention, I also would not have recognized that image as hydrogen. It looks like planets to me.

A germ of an idea

Update: Had to change the title. I didn't mean a "gem" of an idea, but a "germ" of an idea. Funny how one little letter can change the meaning.

Take this for what its worth, but join me if you can.

Even though blogging is a PITA (pain in the ass) I'm thinking of starting a new site, but I'll need tons of help.

I would call it ROAR for Return Our American Republic.

The premise is to catalogue all the actions of the Bush administration which have eroded or destroyed what America is. Lately its the DOJ turning what is supposed to be a non-partisan court system into an arm of the GOP.

Uh, is there a two?

This guy is an idiot and I'm just hoping the American public realizes it sooner or later.

"I'm not going to talk about it," Mr. Bush told reporters at a news conference with departing British Prime Minister Tony Blair. "It's a very sensitive program. I will tell you that, one, the program is necessary to protect the American people, and it's still necessary because there's still an enemy that wants to do us harm." [emphasis mine]

String tripod

Because many sites I visit post digital pictures they've taken and they are often fuzzy as are many of my own, I decided to post this.

This is an old photographers trick - here is my design. Sometimes referred to as a string tripod or string bipod or string monopod. Also known as a chain tripod, bipod, etc... This device is used to stabilize a camera in order to get clearer pictures at a slow shutter speed. With more and more digital cameras coming out with vibration reduction or image stabilization systems, the string tripod has a new life.

Since image stabilization systems work best with rotational vibration, translational vibration can still create blurry pictures. By restraining the up-down left-right and back-front axis, you can lessen this vibration. Since with this design you still have rotational freedom, you can pan and follow something such as a bird or sports player. You can also recompose your shot with little trouble. Of course this technique also works well with non image stabilization systems.

Porcine flight

If that highlighted quote below [emphasis mine] doesn't make you fall off your chair laughing, you haven't been paying attention at all.

"The current unjust arrangement by which the U.S. gets to appoint the head of the World Bank and the Europeans pick the head of the IMF has to end," said Bernice Romero, advocacy director for international development group Oxfam.

Nancy Birdsall, president of the Washington-based Center for Global Development, said the Wolfowitz case illustrated the need for change, but she questioned whether the United States would budge."I wish the Bush administration would announce its support for an open, competitive and merit-based process," Birdsall said.

War czar

I feel so fucking more safe knowing we have a war czar.

President Bush on Tuesday chose Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute, the Pentagon's director of operations and a former leader of U.S. military forces in the Middle East, to oversee the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan as a war czar.

That was the part of the puzzle missing all these years. Now we can prevail.

Me and CENTCOM

If you intend to blow smoke up my ass, no thanks. If you dispense usable, verifiable information that proves to be accurate, then I'm interested.

I do support the troops if not the occupation of Iraq and want to know if good things are being done for the Iraqi people.

Please do send your missives to me, but don't be too upset if I decide to identify them as spam in the future. I'll be the judge. Its up to you. Tell me the truth or you're gone.

On 5/14/07, CENTCOM CCPA Electronic Media wrote:

Greetings-

In the last few months or so you may or may not have received an e-mail from US Central Command Public Affairs. In particular, a member of our Electronic Media Engagement Team noticed that you were interested in Global War on Terror themes or topics being discussed about the CENTCOM area of responsibility.

CENTCOM is working to establish relationships with bloggers and to build dialogue with them. We recognize blogs as being a viable medium for the American public to get its news and information about the GWOT, and for them to engage in open discussions about it.

One of the ways we do this is by offering our CENTCOM Weekly Newsletter to the blogosphere. It contains stories about the humanitarian, reconstruction and security efforts that are being made throughout the CENTCOM AOR. Many times our press releases make it out to the blogosphere before the main stream media picks up on them. Would you care to receive CENTCOM new products?

We also encourage you to take a look at our website at www.centcom.mil. Here you can find out more about US Central Command and its mission. You will also find an archive of press releases, news stories and podcasts from Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa available for download. Feel free to take any information from the website for your blog if you would like to supplement your posts. We have also attached the CENTCOM logo in case you are interested in linking to our website. Thanks for your time.

Buh bye, Jerry

Sorry, can't be civil about this.

The Rev. Jerry Falwell collapsed at his campus office and died Tuesday after a career in which the evangelist used the power of television to transform the religious right into a mighty force in American politics. He was 73.

He was a parasite on the body politic and I have no remorse for his passing. Millions of people paid Jerry Falwell all the money they had so he could spread his hatred and live like a king. Very few people have earned my disgust more than he.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Must read IMHO

We're gonna try to get this sucker off the ground

Don't expect too many posts in the next few days. Things are still dicey here. But I'll try to do what I can because I know the world needs me. Well, that isn't entirely true. Most of the millions of web surfers couldn't care less if I post. I'm resigned to that.

But I do have an obligation to the 3 people who do check in regularly and you know who you are.

I'd ask if you missed me and love me, but my children don't so I don't expect it from you. Its strange because I've been introduced to people as "probably the nicest person they will ever meet". Go figure.

About Me

Spent many years programming, mostly mainframes. Been in business for myself, sky dived, scuba dived, practiced karate (until the broken ribs & finger), driven a sprint car (unreal). Want the US to be great again and worry it's impossible. I consider myself a moderate because I believe most Americans don't approve of torture, do want everyone to have health care, a pension and/or a job, privacy, freedom and NO WAR. Not too radical. I use profanity like a sailor so you should leave if you are sensitive.

Bookmark This Page

FAIR USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.